To call EXH suspected employer to confirm whether he works there?

[Laila29]

My ex told the court during our divorce that he was unemployed and living with family in his home EU country. He has maintained this position ever since leaving his UK job around the time I applied for child maintenance through CMS.

I have reason to believe he is actually working and living in another country and may be hiding his employment there. DD has seen him attending online work meetings while staying with him. Emails he forwards to me consistently show the timezone of a non-REMO country. When he recently visited, he flew into our small local airport, and the arrival time matched the only direct flight from a city in that country. I have also found online information that appears to link him to a company there. He has not updated his LinkedIn profile, but he only interacts with posts from one organisation and its branch in the country where I believe he is now based. He has previously mentioned wanting to move there. I understand this is not proof.

We have a financial order requiring him to report any changes in employment or income and to pay child maintenance from overseas. When I recently asked about maintenance, he again stated that he is unemployed and living with family.
I believe he is now living in a non-REMO country, which makes enforcement more difficult, and is concealing his employment there. I am unsure what steps I can realistically take to confirm his work situation.

Would it be seen as harassment if I call his suspected employer and ask to speak to him? I wouldn't ask for any personal information just 'could you please transfer me to X' I would hang up before the call is transferred. I just want confirmation that he's an active employee so I could lodge a child maintenance application with the court.

I don't think you should do this, as tempting as it might be. It could be seen as harassment and it could be traced back to you (by being a UK call which may be very unusual for their business, or because calls are routinely recorded). I also don't think it'll achieve much even if you are put through to someone. It won't count as evidence for court as it's just your word and playing devil's advocate it could be someone with the same name as your ex if you are connected. If ringing is to give you the confidence to put in something to the court he could still deny it. Even if the court do agree as it's a non-REMO country how are they going to enforce the maintinence. I'm sorry you and your daughter are in this situation, it's not right he's doing this but I don't think any good will come out of ringing.